Roger Ali, MBA, C.Dir., CFRE
With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, Roger D. Ali is an internationally recognized fundraising strategist, governance leader, executive coach, consultant, and speaker. He is widely respected for his expertise in philanthropy, major gifts, capital campaigns, organizational leadership, governance, and advancing ethical fundraising practices.
Roger serves as the 2025–2026 Chair of the Global Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, representing more than 24,000 fundraising professionals across more than 200 chapters worldwide. His appointment reflects a longstanding commitment to strengthening the fundraising profession and supporting nonprofit leaders around the globe.
A strategic fundraising executive with a proven track record, Roger has led comprehensive fundraising and marketing initiatives that have generated more than $200 million in philanthropic support, including multiple successful major gift, capital, and endowment campaigns. His executive leadership experience includes serving as President & CEO of the Niagara Health Foundation, Vice President, Development at Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, Executive Director of the Bishop Strachan School Foundation, and currently as Director, Fund Development and Communications for the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Hamilton.
As an independent consultant specializing in fundraising strategy, governance, major gifts, capital campaigns, and executive coaching, Roger advises charities, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and nonprofit leaders on strengthening fundraising performance, building sustainable philanthropic programs, developing leadership capacity, and enhancing governance. He also serves as a Senior Associate with S. Sutton & Associates Inc.
A sought-after keynote speaker and leadership facilitator, Roger presents regularly at AFP conferences, universities, healthcare organizations, and nonprofit leadership events across North America and internationally. His presentations explore fundraising strategy, major gift philanthropy, campaign leadership, governance, organizational culture, and leadership development. He is passionate about helping organizations build cultures of trust, strengthen donor relationships, develop high-performing teams, and navigate complexity through authentic relationships and purposeful leadership.
Roger holds the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation in Governance from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, an MBA from Athabasca University, a postgraduate certificate in Administration and Management, and has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2000. He has also completed executive education programs at Harvard University and Stanford University.
His volunteer leadership includes service on the Board of Imagine Canada, where he served as Secretary and Chair of the Governance and Human Resources Committee. In addition to his current role as AFP Global Board Chair, Roger is Past Chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada, Past President of the AFP Golden Horseshoe Chapter—where he received the Outstanding Leadership Award in 2017-and Past Board Member and Congress Chair of the AFP Toronto Chapter.